Hey Greenwich! Did You Know ... Old Barn Renovation Plan Is OK'd?

Today is Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

This day in history

In 1966, the Supreme Court hands down its decision in Miranda v. Arizona, establishing the principle that all criminal suspects must be advised of their rights before interrogation.

In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appoints U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Thurgood Marshall to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Associate Justice Tom C. Clark.

In 1986, Bishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the 1984 Nobel Prize for Peace, meets with South African President P.W. Botha to discuss the nationwide state of emergency declared by Botha in response to the anti-apartheid protests.

Celebrity birthdays:

• The twin child stars turned celebs Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are 25.
• Lead singer of pop-rock band Weezer Rivers Cuomo is 42.
• "Beverly Hills 90210" star and singer/guitarist Jamie Walters is 43.
• Brat pack actress in "The Breakfast Club" Ally Sheedy is 50.
• "Home Improvement" star was the voice of Buzz Lightyear Tim Allen is 59.
• Richard Thomas, John-Boy on TV's "The Waltons," is 61.
• Christo, the artist who drapes buildings and landscapes with fabric, is 77.

Things you should know

Renovation of old barn at Tod's Point OK'd

The long-winded discussion on the merits of renovating the last remaining original building from the estate of J. Kennedy Tod at Greenwich Point ended with the Representative Town Meeting approving the plan Monday night.

The Greenwich Point Conservancy is proposing to raise up to $850,000 for the project, which if approved by land-use agencies, could begin in October. After much discussion on whether the town would be responsible for paying any costs exceeding the proposed $850,000 cap, the Representative Town Meeting approved accepting the Conservancy's donation to pay for the redesign of the drop off driveway near the park entrance, pedestrian crossings and the renovation and refurbish the 1887 building—one of the last original buildings of the former Tod estate.

Franco said the current bathroom facilities in a one-story brick building next to the original barn—which houses a concession stand and lifeguard station—would be razed. The renovated stone and shingle building will house bathroom and shower facilities, the concession and lifeguard station. There also will be a dining area overlooking the beach.

About $300,000 is expected to be raised by the sale of inscribed paver stones to line walkways. The stones will be sold for $200 each.

Several RTM members questioned whether an additional traffic study was necessary—a study done by an independent consultant in addition to the study already conducted by the town's traffic department. Franco said that an independent study would drive up the project's overall cost and likely delay the start of the project.

Now that the town has agreed to accept the project, plans will be submitted to town land-use agencies for approval.

Meetings today at Greenwich Town Hall:

Greenwich Community Television

If you prefer the clicker instead of being there or want to catch up on a Greenwich meeting you missed, there's Greenwich Community Television (GCTV) on either Fios Channel 24 or Cablevision's Channel 79.

And if you prefer the movies:

Sources: history.com; famousbirthdays.com

*Editor's note: this story has been updated to correct the name of the organization undertaking the barn renovation project.